The Girl Behind the Mask

Joy, laughter,

 

The smile on her face gives me a pleasant sensation 

 

The way her eyes can light up a room 

 

She makes everyone feel something they have never felt 

 

When I ask around about her I get the same response:

 

“She's happy”

“She's kind”

“She listens”

“She's helpful”

“She's perfect.”

 

She's perfect? 

 

How so, how is she so perfect?

 

How can one person be so happy and so thoughtful all the time?

 

Every second of every day

 

How can this be possible?

 

How can nobody notice 

 

I can see it 

 

I see it every day 

 

I see the pain

 

The guilt 

 

The regret 

 

The tears 

 

The scars 

 

The makeup 

 

I never see her stop 

 

She's never home 

 

She makes something of herself 

 

She works herself 

 

She makes her body do these incredible things 

 

She never stops.

 

She's miserable 

 

She is not this joyful happy person everyone claims her to be 

 

Yeah she's a great listener but she consumes herself 

 

Consumes herself in pain

 

Not just hers but everyone else's 

 

She can't take it 

 

I see her eyes slowly start to fade 

 

Day

 

After day 

 

After day 

 

She's dying 

 

She can't take it 

 

She can't look at herself 

 

She's done

 

People are noticing 

 

Her mask is fading 

 

She's not so joyful 

 

She's not as happy 

 

She doesn't listen anymore 

 

She wore the mask so people didn't have to know 

 

That the unthinkable was true 

 

But it is.

 

Her mask is broken 

 

People know

 

Everybody knows 

 

And as the tears hit the floor 

 

She looks up at her reflection 

 

And staring back at her 

 

Is me.

 

 

Natalie.perry

VT

16 years old

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